Napoleon, Caesar, Aristotle, Washington, Rockefeller. These men have been part of history for thousands of years. They are remembered for their flaws and their triumphs, for their personality and their actions. Whether for good or evil, they are and will always be remembered. But then the question arises: are these men special? Do they deserve the memory that was given to them? Are these the men who should be our role models? These questions constitute a central theme of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. In his novel, Dostoevsky provides a social commentary on the nature of man. He asserts that the best of humanity are made up of a chosen few capable of great things, but who accomplish them without complaint or arrogance. Following these standards, achieving as much as possible, does not necessarily mean that they are the best that humanity has to offer. Crime and Punishment tells the story of the murder of a pawnbroker, and the ensuing story of how the killer, Raskolnikov, is able to finally accept what he did was wrong. In the novel, Raskolnikov is depicted as a seemingly insane young man with what appear to be random thoughts and feelings. Raskolnikov considers himself a genius and considers himself above the law. He considers himself a type of Napoleon, a man of great achievements. Sonya contrasts with Raskolnikov's importance. Sonya is the eldest daughter of the Marmeladov family; his family is very poor and has to support many children. To help her family financially, Sonya is forced to become a prostitute, as it is the only way she sees to provide the money she needs to survive. Yet despite being at the bottom rung of society, Sonya retains her strong Christian faith and her ability to love and care for others. By exploring the...... middle of paper ......m of society. Yet she was in fact superior, due to her compassion and strong moral center. Thanks to her kindness and good soul, she was able to help Roskolonikov redeem himself by confessing his crime and accepting his punishment. With Sonya's help, he recognized that even his logic and superior mind did not justify his actions. Dostoyevsky is trying to give us a social commentary on the nature of our society. Dostoyevsky believes that our current system of promoting action and ignoring morality is wrong. Why does Tiger Woods get the million dollar Nike contract when a nice old lady can afford to eat enough barley? Our society focuses on actions and achievements and ignores our compassion, love and soul. Interestingly, when we seek love, we focus on these moral issues. Perhaps it is time to change the values ​​of our society.